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Kiev unlikely to expel Russian forces, return territories in near future — Pentagon

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley reiterated that Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky had publicly stated many times that the Ukrainian objective was to expel all Russian forces from the territories Kiev considers its own

WASHINGTON, April 1. /TASS/. Ukraine is unlikely to attain its military goal of expelling Russian troops and returning all territories in the near future, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley said in an online interview with the Defense One media outlet on Friday.

"I don't think it's likely to be done in the near term for this year," the military official said. He reiterated that Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky had publicly stated many times that the Ukrainian objective was to expel all Russian forces from the territories Kiev considers its own. "And that is a significant military task. Very, very difficult military task," the general insisted. "I'm not saying it can't be done. I'm just saying it's a very difficult task," he concluded.